The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-07-02
FUN IN A SHOE STORE
Peck's Sun.

Peck's Sun.
 X shoe store is the last place on the face of the earth where one would look for fun, but once in a great while, something funny will turn up, and the proprietor and clerks, who are about to go into decline from want of exercise, fresh air, and change of scene, will give few spasmodic gur- gles-the nearest approach to laugh they ever indulge in, and then sink back into their monotonous, every day, humdrum life, only to be awak- ened again in time-it may be a month and it may be years-by some funny little incident which will acci- dentally turn up, and again cause them to gurgle few gurgs. Were an ordinary mortal to wait upon the average female customer, who never knows what style of shoe she wants, and compels the clerk to try every shoe in the store, on her feet, one after another, he would then sympathize with the clerks, and not wonder at the melancholy expression that lies like a pail upon the face of each and every one. Of course, in time they be- come used to the business, the same as does coroner, or undertaken, and can smile and enjoy life, but it takes years of hard work, and even then it is usually a case hardened smile that has been cultivated, and does not look natural. But who can blame them for having "that tired feeling?" There they remain, day in and day out, with no change to vary the monotony, talk ing down and putting up shoes, try ing to convince big footed females that they can not get into small shoes, and at the'same time enjoy perfect respira- tion. and being obliged to listen to the excuses which they offer for hav- ing such large feet. "Why, it's enough to drive one mad," was clerks reply to my question few days since, when ladies. Did you notice that stylishly dressed lady who passed out as you entered? Well, she is positively the worst that I have encountered for a month-(here the poor fellow wiped the precipitation from his brow, and stopped to catch his breath) and every time l see her coming feel like hiding i'll the cellar. You see," he continued, after another pause, ''she never knows what she wants, and compels me to bring out everything in the store. She has been here for two hours laying aside each pair as brought them, not even deigning to look at some. At last, after working for an hour and half chanced to think of a hobby pair of shoes that had escaped my notice before, and strange to relate, she admired them to the extent of al- lowing me to try them on. They were fours, and perfect fit, and she had told me to do them up. when she suddenly paused, saying: 'Aw, by the by, what size are they?'
 Il stretched it little by telling her they were threes and a half, when, would you believe it, she told me in cold blood that two and a half was her size. By this time felt like go- ing off and getting full, but I thought it best to humor her, and 80 brought out pair of two's and a hssn. Well, between us, we tugged and snorted AOi Auiy to ECt thcrC those shoes on, but were at last obliged to give it up. Then she turned to me and said:
 I really cawn't understand it. It must be that my stocking has become damp; but never mind, will be in to- morrow
 "And with this she left. Oh, how I suffer-"
 And this is the life of the clerk in a shoe-store. But to return to the funny incident that I started to relate It was on one of our recent hot days and certain high toned shoe store, not a great many blocks from the lake, was crowded to it's utmost, while every clerk, and even the proprietor were humping themselves to wait upon their customers.
 One lady who weighs in the neigh borhood of couple of hundred, and who takes life easy under all circum- stances, whether having shoes fitted